ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Democratic convention delegates said they are united behind presidential candidate Barack Obama, but some Hillary Clinton backers took advantage of their last chance to formally express their support for the New York senator.
Eight delegates threw their support behind Clinton during the presidential nomination roll call vote Wednesday; 78 other Minnesota delegates cast their votes for Obama.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., used the roll call vote to tell the convention that Minnesota is "home of the winning (University of Minnesota) Duluth women's hockey team."
The nomination of Obama, Klobuchar said, came 60 years after a Democratic convention speech by Minnesotan Hubert Humphrey "in which he challenged our country to seize a historic opportunity."
"Minnesota is proud to be part of this historic convention of change," Klobuchar said.
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The roll call ended when Clinton asked delegates to back Obama.
Pack, then eat
Members of the Minnesota delegation at the Democratic National Convention earned their lunch Wednesday -- and prepared the same for others in the process.
Many delegates spent part of the morning with some of their Alaska counterparts to pack meals for a Denver-area Meals on Wheels program. It was one of numerous volunteer activities the convention organized for its Delegate Service Day.
Some Minnesotans then went to a luncheon hosted by former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, who is thinking about running for governor in two years.
Rural on agenda
Democrats gathered for their national convention continue to hear a message their leaders say too often is overlooked: Rural America -- and its votes -- matter.
Delegate Andrew Falk of western Minnesota said Wednesday he was to attend a forum on rural issues with Minnesota's Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz. Falk said the topic is being discussed all week, not just on Monday when national Democratic Chairman Howard Dean talked about the importance of rural America.
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"There is definitely a focus on rural issues," Falk said. "I think in many places around the country they may have felt left behind. That's one of the focuses -- to re-engage rural voters."
Bill sighting
All political eyes were on Hillary Clinton's speech Tuesday night to the Democratic National Convention -- but some Minnesota delegates admit they were distracted by another big name in the hall.
Delegate Valerie Coit of Wrenshall recalled that she and other Minnesotans were in their assigned seats in Denver's Pepsi Center when they heard commotion behind them.
"And here was Bill (Clinton) sitting right above us," she said of the former president, who was listening to his wife's remarks. "We were all kind of peeking up there to see what Bill was doing. It was kind of neat to have him close by and watch his reaction to Hillary's speech."
Down on TV
Much of the attention given earlier in the week to the divide among Obama delegates and Clinton supporters was ginned up by television reporters and commentators, Minnesota delegate Mike Sundin said.
Sundin said the story line that there was a lack of unity among Democrats was overblown.
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"They're sitting on the sidelines like vultures looking for a scrap to feed on," he said of cable TV news reporters. "I see the CNN crew down on the floor and taking up space, and there's probably six or eight talking heads visible at any point and they're not even watching the convention -- and they're the ones telling America what's going on."
Dance noticed
State Auditor Rebecca Otto said she's heard from people who saw her performance during the Democratic National Convention Monday night.
Otto didn't deliver a speech; rather, what had people talking was the television shot of her dancing in her seat in the Pepsi Center. She also appeared briefly Wednesday, again dancing on television.
"You've got to have fun," said the Democrat and former state lawmaker, quickly admitting that she isn't a good dancer but likes doing it anyway.
She may do more of it, too. Otto said a friend invited her to go out dancing Wednesday night after the official convention activities.
